A woman reads messages of condolences left near the spot where the tragedy happened

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THE head teacher of a school devastated by the death of a three-year-old and his father in a rowing boat accident has issued a message of support to the family.

Mark Turner, head of Warwick Preparatory School, also thanked emergency service following the tragedy, which claimed the lives of antiques dealer Julian Mynott and three-year-old son Freddie on Saturday.

Mr Mynott’s two other children, six-year-old Florence and Archie, seven, who were rescued by a passer-by and policeman, are believed to attend the preparatory school. Neighbours said the villager waded into the water to save the children.

Freddie and his father died when their new boat capsized and tumbled down a four foot weir on the River Avon, only yards from their Barford, Warwickshire, home.

It has emerged Mr Mynott died trying to save Freddie. He was seen attempting to swim to the boy, but the current was too strong. Their bodies were pulled from the water hours later.

Mr Turner said: “We are aware of the tragic incident at Barford which involved a family with children who attend the schools in the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation.

“This is clearly a very distressing incident and we send our condolences to all those involved and our thanks to the emergency and medical services for all that they did and continue to do.”

Mr Mynott, aged 42, moved to Barford with wife Emma, 41, and their children in February. He had bought the boat as a treat for his children just days before the accident.

Disaster struck when the vessel flipped over and flung its passengers into a fierce current.

Speaking from his home in Thailand, Mr Mynott’s father, Roger, said it was his son’s dream to go boating on the river.

He described Mr Mynott as a ‘safety freak’ who lived for his children. He would’ve made sure the children wore life jackets, added Roger.

Floral tributes have been left at the scene of the tragedy which happened shortly after 5.30pm on Saturday.